by Iqbal Farooze
SRINAGAR: Tourism in Yousmarg, a meadow in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, remains suspended as part of precautionary security measures imposed after an incident involving tourists in Pahalgam, even though no untoward incident has been reported from Yousmarg itself.
The continued restrictions have left families dependent on tourism without income, with residents questioning the absence of clarity, communication and timelines from the administration.
In Yousmarg, hotels remain locked and tourism activity has come to a halt, affecting hotel owners, tourist guides, pony handlers, porters, drivers, shopkeepers and seasonal labourers. For most households in the area, tourism is the primary source of livelihood.
“The situation became so desperate that the conversation even reached a point where people were talking about setting themselves on fire,” said a local business owner. “We understand security, but what we do not understand is why peaceful places like ours are being shut indefinitely without explanation.”
The restrictions followed security incidents reported from other tourist destinations, including Doodhpathri and Tosa Maidan. Authorities have not officially linked Yousmarg to any specific threat, but access continues to remain restricted.
Residents said the uniform application of precautionary measures has raised questions about proportionality. “At present, we are being pushed into starvation. Our children have been withdrawn from schools, and our hotels remain shut,” another business owner said.
Yousmarg’s economy is almost entirely tourism-driven, with limited alternative employment opportunities. Local residents said the prolonged closure has increased financial pressure on families, particularly those servicing loans.
“We had taken loans to set up our homestays, and with March approaching, we do not know how we will repay them if Yousmarg remains closed,” said a local resident. Several families reported borrowing money for daily expenses, while others said they were delaying medical treatment and reducing food consumption.
Residents said they have submitted multiple representations to district authorities, the tourism department and grievance cells, but claimed that responses have been limited or absent.
The affected families have appealed to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. They said reopening Yousmarg could be managed through phased access, verification procedures, checkpoints and coordination with local stakeholders.
“We are ready to cooperate with any protocol the administration puts in place,” said a hotel owner. “But we cannot survive an indefinite closure.”
A local tourist guide questioned how long the uncertainty would continue, adding that poor mobile network connectivity in the area has further worsened the situation by limiting access to information and communication.
As the summer season is just a few months away, residents said continued uncertainty could deepen the economic impact on families dependent on tourism in Yousmarg.
